Ethiopian Review

In Foods and for Medicinal Uses

History. Bananas were not available in the US before 1870. At that time, coincidentally, two men came from different countries and brought the amazing fruit back to America.

In 1870, A Massachusetts sea captain, Lorenzo Dow Baker, brought the fruit back from Jamaica to NJ in his schooner and sold them to merchants for $2 per bunch.

A young man from Brooklyn, NY came back from building a railroad in Costa Rica. Minor Keith planted bananas along the track. When the project was completed, bananas were shipped by train to US ports.

Within 10 years, both men joined a Boston businessman, Andrew Preston, to begin the “Boston Fruit Company,” which became the “United Fruit Company” in 1899.

People had to be taught how to eat and prepare the new food. The “Domestic Cyclopaedia of Practical Information” was published. Instructions directed that bananas could be “eaten raw, either alone or cut in slices with sugar and cream, or wine and orange juice. They are also roasted, fried or boiled, and are made into fritters, preserves, and marmalades.” (http://www.essortment.com. “Banana history.”)

In the US, besides oranges, bananas were the only fruit that consumers could find in smaller markets during winter time. They became quite a valued resource.

But they were still an exotic food to some people in other places in the 1930′s. A northern warlord, Wu Chuseng, was invited to a banquet in Peking where bananas were served. He ate one whole. His host peeled a banana to show him how to eat one correctly. To save face, Wu took another and said, “I always eat them like this,” and he ate another unpeeled banana. (Innvista.com/health)

Banana “trees”

A banana tree looks somewhat like a palm tree, and fruit bananas are actually considered perennial herbs. Banana trees grow to a height of 15 to 30 feet (some species reach 40 feet) in about 3 months. Clusters are called “hands,” and each contains 10 to 20 “fingers.” There can be 200 fingers on a tree and each bunch weighs between 80 to 125 pounds. It takes two men to harvest them. One uses a machete and the other catches the bunch on his back.

There are about 300 species of bananas, but only about 20 are commercially cultivated. Major exporters – backed by the major food companies, like Del Monte, Dole and Chiquita, which own land there — are Ecuador, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Honduras.

Bananas still continue to ripen after they’re picked. Green bananas can be ripened quicker by placing them in a brown bag, where they will release ethylene gas; by adding an apple, the process will be even quicker. If bananas have a greenish-gray appearance, they were refrigerated before being ripe, and they will not ripen properly even by bringing them back to room temperature. Unripened bananas will have an astringent taste and can be difficult to digest.

Once ripe, bananas can be stored in the refrigerator, but the skins will turn black. Then they can be kept for up to two weeks, and the fruits will taste sweet, as expected.

Nutritional benefits:

A large banana (9″ long) contains 140 calories along with 602 mg. of potassium, 2 g. protein, 4 g. of fiber, and 2 mg. of sodium.

The banana is a top choice for vitamins and minerals, with 123 I.U. of Vitamin A. Multiple B vitamins are offered in the form of .07 mg of thiamine; .15 mg. of riboflavin; .82 mg. of niacin; .88 mg. of B6 and 29 mcg. of folic acid. There are also 13.8 mg. of Vitamin C; 9.2 mg. of calcium; 44.1 mg. of magnesium; with trace amounts of iron and zinc. (http://www.banana.com/nutritional.html)

Some foods made with bananas:

India makes banana concoctions spiced and sweetened with honey, and their people also drink a cooling beverage of yogurt and banana.

In the Caribbean, people make banana fritters flavored with rum. They also eat chunks of bananas dipped in flour and then dipped into a rich batter, which are deep fried in hot oil and then sprinkled with powdered sugar.

The American banana split became popular in the 1920′s. In 1904, in PA, the split was made by slicing bananas length-wise, adding a couple scoops of ice cream between them, and topping each with strawberry or chocolate sauces, and adding the traditional maraschino cherry on top. (Recipes by http://www.banana.com)

Medicinal Uses of Bananas:

These range from helping with “Anemia” to “Warts.” (Drawn from banana.com)

Bananas seem to stimulate production of hemoglobin in the blood and help anemic people.

Blood pressure. Bananas are high in potassium and low in salt. The U.S. FDA allows the industry to make claims about bananas ability to reduce risk for blood pressure and stroke.

Constipation. Bananas are high in fiber and help some people avoid the use of laxatives.

Depression. Bananas contain tryptophan, which converts to serotonin, which improves mood.

Hangovers. Bananas help calm the stomach. Add some honey, and the combination builds up depleted sugar levels and re-hydrates the body.

Heartburn. Bananas have a natural antacid effect, which may also help in “morning sickness.”

Mosquito bites. The inside skins can reduce swelling and irritation.

PMS and SAD (seasonal affect disorder). B6 helps regulate blood glucose levels and the tryptophan ingredient probably helps moods.

Smoking. The vitamin levels in bananas, along with the potassium and magnesium, seem to help with nicotine withdrawal.

Stress, Strokes, and Ulcers: Bananas seem to help lower metabolic levels, lower the metabolic rate, and reduce hyperacidity, respectively.

Warts. As an alternative cure for warts, some people swear by banana skins. Place the yellow side out and tape to the skin with surgical tape.

According to the Dole manufacturing company, “Banana consumption has also been linked to lower risk of leukemia, colorectal and kidney cancer.” Further, they tout that bananas “contain resistant starch and prebiotic fiber, two compounds that can aid in weight loss” and help avoid unwanted weight gain. (www.dolenutrition.com/Facts.)

Food Warning:

As healthy as they are, some people with latex allergies also experience reactions to bananas (and plaintains, among others), which contain substances called chitnases. (Worldshealthiestfoods at whfoods.com)

Bananas have come a long way since the beginning of time. In fact, according to East Indian legend, the banana was the fruit referred to in paradise as coming from the “Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.” The Indians theorize that Adam used a banana leaf, not a fig leaf, to cover himself. (Innvista.com)

Obviously, bananas are one of our most amazing, readily-available, and affordable fruits.

Don’t overlook adding these yellow wonders to your fruit bowl.

- By Karon Brandt | AC

- Bin Du